Barbara of the House of Grebe

Upon reading Barbara of the House of Grebe I discovered many Gothic elements; one that particularly struck me was the isolation that Barbara often faced. The tutoring of her husband left her isolated in her marriage, the cottage that she was to share with Edmond left her isolated from her family, and her eventual marriage to Lord Uplandtowers left her emotionally isolated. I believe that this isolation is partially what lead her to her eventual madness, which is another strong Gothic theme that is found in this story. There is terror in this story as Barbara faces the disfigurement of her once handsome husband, showing not only the theme of terror but also that of vanity. In addition to to these elements is the Gothic scenery that the author sets to show the decay, sadness and mystery that surrounds Barbara of the House of Grebe.